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Avatar universal

Facial/Eye lid twitching, negative MRI/MRA

I am a 29 year old healthy female.  I exercise 5 days a week and take multiple vitamins (including magnesium and calcium) every day.  I live in PA and this past Decemeber, I went to AZ for a 4 month work detail.  Within one day of being in AZ, I developed severe eye allergies, including dry eyes from the climate.  Two weeks into my detail, the area under my left eyelid (eye bag area) began twitching on and off for weeks.  One day, I woke up and the twitch was non-stop, 24/7, and very visibile.  Some days the twitch was so violent that the eye bag area would appear to lift up and pulsate very hard.  It would wake me up constantly and many nights I could not fall asleep because the twitching was so bad.  The twitch was also most severe in the morning when I first wake up. Around the same time as the eye twitch started, I began feeling a twitching/flicking sensation on my chin and around my mouth a few times throughout the day, which I'm not sure was visible.  I also have had twitching in all other lids, top and bottom, on and off.

I began taking 10mg of Pamelor for migraines since 10/2009 and I thought it may be causing the twitching, so I discontinued the medication in eary March (my migranes were so severe that I was getting them 4-5 days a week and was extremely sick when they would occur).  Stopping the meds did not help the twitching.  I saw several opthamologists while in AZ and they told me it was either stress, allergies, dry eyes, or a combination.
I returned to PA at the end of April and got a botox shot, which completely stopped the twitching (for now).  The doctor gave me Restasis for dry eyes and eye allergy medication.  I also have completely stopped drinking caffeine for over a month (which is killing me!)

Several weeks after I began to be happy that my eye stopped twitching thanks to the botox, my right eye starting twitching in the same spot as my left - below the lower eye lid/eye bag area.  It's been doing it on and off, following the same pattern as the other eye.  I know it's only a matter of days before I wake up to find it twitching 24/7!  I'm so upset!

I went to a neurologist and had an MRI/MRA, which were both negative.  He put me on 80mg of Inderal for migranes, which has been working wonderfully.

The eye doctors and neuro have all said that I have myokymia and it will eventually go away.  It's hard for me to believe this since I've have had the problem for over 5 months and now, my other eye is developing the myokymia.  
My neurologist isn't concerned, especially since the MRI/MRA were negative.  I've have blood work done for vitamin deficiencies, lymes, thyroid, etc - all negative.

I'm very, very concerned that this "flicking" feeling in my face and the progression of the myokymia could lead to hemafacial spasms.  Is this possible?  Is there anything that I should be tested for that the doctors could be missing?  The other meds that I am on are Orthotrycyclen (since I was a teen for medical reasons), Singular for allergies and Lunesta.

I'm really, really upset and I know the stress of being worried is not helping anything.  Please help!  
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Avatar universal
Just wonder how things are now?  I am having the same exact things.  MRI of brain and eyes all negative.  8 weeks of myokymia and one episode of scintillating scoroma, not sure if that's related or not.  Neurologist not worried, it's super annoying!
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Avatar universal
I would like to know as well since I have had the eyelid twitching intermittently now for 3 mos. Saw a neurologist and had a MRI. Nothing but normal. I notice it only seems to do it if I squint such as sneeze, laugh, yawn occasionally.... in the shower washing my face and obviously closing my eyes.. I read this post and it sounds so familiar but I never hear if it ever stopped. It's been 3 months now..... wondering if I am going to have to live with this or will it eventually stop. I too have the occasional twitch in other areas of my face. Sounded exactly like me. I really want to know if this will just go away. Doctor said he was 99.5% sure it was benign and that is why we did the MRI to alleviate that there is anything else such as a tumor, aneurysm etc...... I believe the MRI also shows the optic nerve.. Ughh this came on suddenly end of dec with a sinus cold and has never gone away.
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Avatar universal
I know this is a old thread to write in. But Shanny can you please let us know what happened with your twitching? Did it completely resolve?
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Avatar universal
Shanny stop googling that stuff! Easier said than done, I know!
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Avatar universal
By the way, after the doctor posted above that I may have dystonia, I was googling it - BAD idea...I found this horrible, such and incredibly sad story...I was hysterical crying when I watched it...here I am, freaking out about my eye twitch when this poor girl has this horrible, incurable condition.  You have to watch...it's SO sad...it makes me think of me and my hubby and we just got married....I couldn't imagine if this happened to one of us....SOOO sad.  :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEN5KGwNGeo
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Avatar universal
Oh, my body has been twitching since the eye started.  I've always had muscle twitching b/c I exercise so much, but I think when my eye stress began I felt EVERY muscle twitch SEVERELY all over my body - then I really thought I had MS.  I also injured calf from running 5 + miles 4 days a week like a nut - this was to prove to myself that I didn't have MS - I strained my calf, which cause an internal shaking feeling inside my leg for months - I thought that my life was over and I had MS. I felt much better after my first neuro vist when he told me the twitches were totally normal.  I took 2 weeks off from running and switched up the cardio and what do you know - no more leg shaking.   UH, what stress does to our minds!
Anyway, the spasm in my now botoxed eye (THANK YOU botox) was SO bad that it was swollen and sore all of the time b/c the spasm was literally 24/7.  It was the worst, most embarassing thing every.
Today, the neuro basically said to chill out and everything is benign.   He said myokymia can just happen for no reason and disappear or last for a while.  UHHH...it's been 5 months already so I want this to be DONE!!!  Knowing my luck, I'll probably have it forever.  :(
Oh, he gave me Lexapro for anxiety (b/c I am still freaking out that my face is going to start convulsing).  I'm not sure if I'm going to take them - those types of meds scare the crap out of me.  We'll see...
By the way, I picked up my refill for what I thought was Inderal...I've been taking the generic, Propranolol for the last month, too!  
We have way too much in common.  If we lived closer I'd say we should hang out and discuss our ailments!
How's your eye now?  How often does it twich?  Oh, the drama with the two of us....  :)
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Avatar universal
One more thing, I have been twitcing for a long time! It all started in my left foot. I googled it and thought my life was over. I ran to my neurologist and got an EMG on my left side of my body. It was normal and I was diagnosed with 'benign fasciculation syndrome'. That was in April of 2009.
But this specific eye twitching started about 3 weeks ago at work. I thought the lights were flashing but it was my upper eyelid flickering. It lasted non stop for about 10 days. It got really sore too from the spasming!
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Avatar universal
Yup! My husband makes fun of me too! He only takes vitamins. Must be nice! The propanolol I take is a blood pressure med too. It's also for my tremor. Of course I was worried about Parkinson's but my neuro said it wasn't. But... I still worry about it.
Sometimes I feel my circulation going through my face and I think it's myokymia so maybe that is part of what you are feeling. I am so sensitive that I can feel the blood running through my body!
I am so glad I made you feel a little better!!!
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Avatar universal
OMGGGGGGGGG  thank you for posting!  I forgot to mention I take Imitrex 5mg spray for migranes, too!  Inderal is not a generic - it's a blood pressure lowering medication that works like a miracle for my headaches. I was literally getting "cluster" (as the neuro called them) headaches 4-5 days a week for MONTHS and they were really interfering with my life.  I thought it was a tooth or sinus problem for the longest time b/c the pain always started in my neck face...anyway....

I am EXTREMELY focused on my face - every tiny itch, sensation, hair or dust that falls in my face - I feel it and have a panic attack that another part of my face is about to go into convulsions.  It has take over my life and it's ridiculous!!!  I think a lot of it is psychological and I'm wondering if stress is causing these weird sensations in my face!  I hope it is stress, believe it or not...

Oh, don't worry about MS or anything like that.  I had that panic attack when the myokymia started.  I went to the neuro a month ago and he said it was virtually impossible for a 29 year old female to have MS, ALSO, Parkinson's, etc.  In addition, he said that as a rule, serious diseases have muscle weakness/numbness (like dropping things, loss of balance) associated with them, which I don't have and I'm sure you don't, so don't worry.  I tell you not to worry, yet I still think I may have MS or a tumor that the MRI/MRA didn't find (doc made me get them just as a precaution).  

You definitely sound like me - we both take a lot of meds for being so young, I guess!  My husband always makes fun of me b/c he's always so healthy and rarely even takes motrin!

I'm actually going back to the neuro tomorrow for my one month check up.  I'll express all of my hemifacial spasms/dystonia (that is my latest paranoia) scares to him.  

How long have you had the twitching for?  I'll have to read your posts...thanks for making me feel a little better! :)  
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Avatar universal
I totally know what you are going through! If you look through the posts you will notice that I posted that my top left eyelid was twitching NON-STOP. Now it is intermittent and I will happily take that! Every so often I get a twitch in other parts of my face too but they are not nearly as often as my eye. It is most likely benign and caused from stress. I have decided to ignore mine. I really doubt that you have hemifacial spasm because it would be extremely rare to affect both sides of your face at once. Last week I was a nervous wreck though because I read that it could be an early symptom of a brain tumor or MS but I have decided try not to think about that. Sometimes I feel creepy crawly sensations in my chin and upper lip and I think it's myokymia/twitching but when I look it is not moving. I think that I am imagining it because I am so focused on my face. I have not had an MRI or anything but I see my neurologist regularly for migraines. AND I am 29 years old too. I take imitrex injections and propanolol for my migraines.Isn't that generic for Inderal? I am also on the ortho-tricyclen and a medication for GERD and I have ocular allergies. We have a lot in common. I have a stressful job too. For 29 years old I take a lot of meds. I think you are alright though. Myokymia is extremely annoying though!
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Avatar universal
Thank you for your comment.

I have been evaluating by a neurologist and he seems to think everything is fine and it's just myokymia.  I am mainly concerned because my other eye is now having the same twitching, 5 months after the first eye started twitching.  I was just wondering if there are any other tests I should get to make sure it's nothing more serious?

I have no muscle weakness or atrophy anywhere else.  The twitching in other parts of my face is not visible, but I feel it occasionally throughout the day in my chin, cheeks, and eyebrows.  

Is it possible that these sensations could be from stress?  I have NEVER slept well ever since I was a child and I do have a stressful job.  I disregarding the twitching as stress because I have always been a stressed, anxious insomniac.  Maybe everything is catching up to me?  No idea.

Thank you.
Helpful - 0
1093617 tn?1279302002
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi, Thank you for your question. Your symptoms of eyelid and facial twitching could be due to involuntary muscle contraction called dystonia. This may also be affected by nerve compression, injury and hormonal imbalance. It is difficult to find any specific cause for these twitching, however Botox injections may be some help to prevent the contraction from occurring. I would recommend evaluation by a neurologist that may benefit you. I hope you find the information I have provided useful. Take Care.

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